Checking In/Checking Out

What a fantastic week in Florida! We arrived home yesterday, and already I am packing up the car again...the kids and I head out to NC tomorrow morning for some time with Maggie, (my mom) my sister, Krista, and a few very good friends. I am really looking forward to the time spent there, not necessarily the drive, however, in which I will be flying solo!

Any last minute advice, suggestions, etc...?

I'll post some FL/Disney pictures in the next few days...

Hope you're all enjoying summer!

Cheers, Kate

The Prettiest Dogs on the Block!

Although I hated to indulge her, I admit that I hesitantly stood by for a few moments while Juliana sucked poor Sophie and Kamilah (our dogs) into her world of dress up yesterday...

"But Mama," she said so sweetly, "they'll be the prettiest dogs on the block!"

First Steps on the Road Toward Simplifying Life

After my last post about the possibility of transforming chaos into simplicity, I felt like I needed to take a break from blogging while I tried to gain some perspective on things. Also, My mom, who just returned from working overseas for the past two months, was here for 9 wonderful days, visiting and helping to make my life a little less stressful, and a whole lot more enjoyable!

I have been so touched by the amount of responses that I have received both here, via e-mail, and snail mail (thanks Gwen!). It has really been amazing to receive so much fantastic advice, encouragement, and support. Letting my heart hang out all over the page as I did was cathartic, and truthfully, a wonderful way to allow other's to see that they're not alone in these struggles. I can't tell you how many amazing, real, and honest mothers told me that they too, are lost in their own personal chaos, continually searching for real advice, manageable solutions, and of course, faithful support while enduring these every day struggles.

As my new friend, Kayla wrote, "every mother I know struggles in this way, but I flip through magazines and the articles are telling me how to lose weight, make better cupcakes, and keep my husband from wandering :) Please! Blogging about the real struggle is part of the revolution, and a way we can take back our narrative."

Kayla, you are so right on the money! It is sad that we hold ourselves up to this unattainable standard, well at least I know I do. And It's not that I feel like I need to lower my expectations, I am realizing that in order to succeed, I just need to change them.

So I will.

I recently discovered a fantastic web site, called Simplemom.net. The site focuses on creating productivity, and simplicity for moms, who are most often also home managers.

When I first glanced at the main content areas, I swear I nearly cried with relief! Finally, I had found a one stop resource offering wonderful, and might I also add, realistic, solutions for my growing list of dilemmas!

Topics found on Simple Mom include:

• Green and Frugal
• Your Haven
• Organizing
• Productivity
• Taking care of yourself
• Money management
• Food and drink
• Relationships

Additionally, while browsing the site, I stumbled across this amazing article, How to Live a Better Story, that spoke volumes about many of the core issues with which I have been struggling.

It's definitely worth taking a few moments to check out this site...it just might help simplify things for you as well.

Just checking in to let you know that I am actually doing well!

We've had company visiting for the last week and I've been enjoying some time being preoccupied with them!

I'll update soon. Hope your week has been great!

Transforming Chaos into Simplicity, is it Possible?

For the last few months, I have been continuously riding tumultuous and unexpected waves of emotions filled with discontent, frustration, guilt, resentment, and hopelessness.

Although at one point, I actually thought that maybe I need to get some help, maybe I am really depressed, maybe I am actually losing it...maybe...

But then the pieces started falling into place, and I was bombarded with the realization that I am not depressed, (thankfully) but rather just stuck. I have been trapped in my own bottomless pit of self generated chaos.

I kid you not, it has been really scary, and in all honesty, really unpleasant.

For months now I have been feeling overwhelmed with:

1. The Enormity of our House. The fact that our new home here in Birmingham is nearly THREE times the size of our first home, and that it has FIVE bathrooms should make it clear enough. Don't get me wrong, I am incredible grateful, but I am also often filled with a sense of hypocrisy in residing in such a gigantic home while simultaneously trying to live a "greener" lifestyle.



2. The clutter. Two small children who desire to be into as many different projects (simutaneously, of course) as their mother also (usually unsuccessfully) attempts.



3. The stress of continual cleaning. Two small children, two large dogs, an overworked husband, and just for kicks, I'll mention the five bathrooms again...need I say more?



4. Not Making the Most of my Time. Confession: I've got Attention Deficit Disorder. There, you all know, now you can say to yourself, " wow, Kate, that really explains a LOT!" I know, I know, everyone seems to have ADD these days, but I really have it, bad. I was diagnosed with it eighteen years ago, before it became cool or a great excuse.



5. Figuring out my Life Purpose. Thirty-six years old, Masters Degree in hand, wife, mother of two...crap...NOW what?



6. Taking on too much Responsibility. It's classic ADD, really. I want to do it all, I swear, I'll try to do it all, I'll even promise you that I'll be able to do it all. But in the end I'll just disappoint you and myself, because the reality is that I actually have no idea how to do it all; I just know that I want to.



7. The Guilt of not being the Best Mom I know I am capable of being. This is a hard one. I think every mom wishes she could be more, do more and give more to her children. Why can't I? Why is it that while I tried to clean the kitchen this morning, I overheard Juliana talking to a "pretend mom," and worse, the pretend mom gave her encouragement, "you can do it, I know you can!" Juliana voiced for her invisible helper. Why wasn't I in there giving her real encouragement? Why does she need a pretend mom?!!!! How can I be there for her, but also get the kitchen cleaned?
   

So, now that I have bared my soul to you, I am going to try and attempt some change here. That is a big word for me, you know, the ADD thing and all. Even though I want to, I don't change very well. I just get stuck. And then I'm miserable and overwhelmed, and still watching the clutter evolve around me, while I make dinner for the new parents down the street (whom I barely even know), and end my days going to bed filled with guilt over not teaching the kids something new that day, or folding the 5 loads of clean, and now wrinkled loads of laundry resting on the couch. If I don't change, I'll continue to feel immersed in that same old resentment, frustration, and, well, you know, you get the point.

My goal:

To begin writing about the individual challenges of me- a mom on a mission to create a simpler life for herself, despite certain fixed, and unchangeable factors.

What I need from you!:

• For you to keep checking back here to see that I am (hopefully) making improvements! I need some accountability!!!



• words of wisdom (really don't be shy, I'll take any advice I can get!)



• encouragement



• resources (ie: web sites, articles, journals, books, etc...that have inspired, motivated, and or moved you to make changes toward living a simpler, less chaotic life.



• prayers...lots of them!!!!!

Thanks! Kate

Slowing Down...

With the (horrid) Alabama HEAT in full swing around these parts, the kids and I have been mostly sticking to indoor activities lately.

We've enjoyed free movies at our local movie theater, awesome library events, and lots of fun play dates with great friends. But as the weeks pass by, I have begun to enjoy spending just as much time here at home with the kids. After all of the chaos of the last year including our recent move and my completing my Masters degree, I can't tell you how great it feels to just simply....

S-L-O-W

d

o

w

n

What we've been doing:

• Nate has been spending loads of time working on all of the awesome building sets he received as birthday gifts (and might I add, he's been coming up with some really cool inventions!)




• Jules is taking full advantage of all of her dress up clothes, playing restaurant, and teaching the alphabet to all of her dolls!




• Together they have been enjoying their version of sledding with an IKEA tunnel





• We have been making lots of crafts, painting, and trying to practice and enhance the kid's writing and reading skills


• I have been organizing the playroom




• Tending to the garden





• Trying to catch up on all of those unfinished (or really, never even started!) house projects

(more painting, organizing, etc....)

• Dedicating time toward figuring out REAL priorities, and creating a SIMPLER household, and if I can make it happen...a simlpler, more productive life as well! Simple Mom has become my new favorite place to gather inspiration and even more importantly, motivation on living simpler!!! Check it out!

Here's to taking a little time to just slow down and enjoy what life presents you!

Kate

Make A Difference- Vote to Help Millions More Know Weelicious!!!!

I have been a huge fan of Catherine McCord from Weelicious since, well, really since Nate began eating!!! When I was still in my "Yikes!!! I'm a new mom, and although I want to give my baby the most nutritious, healthiest, and yummiest foods possible, I have no idea where to start...!" phase, I couldn't be more thrilled to have stumbled across the Weelicious web site.

Catherine's no nonsense approach inspires people to feed not only their children healthy and delicious meals, but to feed the whole family this way as well.

Now, she is a possible candidate to host her own TV show on Oprah's Network, one that will feature Weelicious and aims to help families learn how to prepare and eat foods that are not just healthy and tasty, but just as important to most moms--fast to make!!!

If you have a minute, check out her awesome web site. You'll find recipes such as chicken pesto tenders or homemade baby food like apple fennel puree--foods that even the most challenged cook is capable of preparing.

I promise you'll find yourself truly inspired and looking forward to returning to Weelicious frequently in search of inspiring recipes, ideas to get your kids involved in cooking, and helpful techniques to spark their interest in trying new foods, as well as a host of other awesome information about keeping our families healthy.

If you are just as motivated by her as I am, please take a minute to watch her short video here, and VOTE for her!!!!

I have no doubt that she WILL make a big difference for American families!